JENNIE McKEON @JennieMnwfdn

It’s a typical rite of passage for college graduates to take a big trip before they enter “the real world.”

Two longtime friends from Navarre not only are going on a seven-day adventure through Europe, they’re doing it with only cans of Red Bull as currency.

And right before finals.

“I’ve done a fair bit of traveling, but it does get expensive,” Navarre High School alumnus Brennon Williamson said. “When I saw this opportunity, I immediately went for it. A free trip to Europe will really motivate you.”

Williamson, his girlfriend Alexis Swartz and fellow Navarre High alumnus Skyler Singleton make up one of 200 teams from 60 countries taking part of the Red Bull Can You Make It challenge. The final teams of three are chosen by public vote. Participants have to give up their wallets and personal phones in exchange for 24 cans of Red Bull. At each checkpoint, they can be rewarded with more Red Bull cans after completing a challenge.

Red Bull provides teams with a cellphone to capture photos and video, which are directly sent to the team’s page.

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With his photo and video skills, Williamson created the team video and the trio gathered support around their college campuses. Williamson and Swartz are seniors at University of Central Florida and Singleton is a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

“I think we’ll be a good team,” Williamson said. “We have the same passion and mindset.”

Singleton said he had first heard about the Red Bull challenge during his sophomore year of high school. And even though the seven-day race is right before his finals, he couldn’t miss the opportunity this time around.

“I’ve never been to Europe,” he said. “I’m looking forward to learning about the culture and building these wacky relationships by bartering. I think it will be a cool way to see the countries.”

On Sunday, Team Bullish — as the trio call themselves — will leave for Sweden, where the adventure begins. They have seven days to reach Amsterdam. Grand prize winners will receive a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.

“The trip to Europe is pretty much prize enough,” Singleton said.

It’s not easy to pack for a trip that’s designed to be spontaneous. After hiking the Appalachian Trail, Williamson has lots of camping equipment and survival skills, which he’s already been teaching to Swartz.

“If nothing else works, we can set up camp,” he said.

To prepare for the trip, Swartz said she’s stocking up on meal replacement bars and doing “lots of cardio.” Earlier this week she and Williamson pretended to camp in her living room, complete with a tent and headlamps.

“I’ve read so many articles and watched videos about previous teams,” she said. “Everyone says don’t do it for the prize; do it for the experience. I love the spontaneity of the challenge. We have no idea what we’re getting ourselves into.”